Indian circumnavigator makes history

Former Indian Navy Chief and High Commissioner-Designate to New Zealand Admiral Sureesh Mehta flagging off INS Mhadei in Mumbai on August 19, 2009

INSV Mhadei in New Zealand waters

When Commander Dilip Donde arrived at the Lyttelton Port of Christchurch on November 21, it was a proud moment for the Indian Navy.

New Zealand is among the four ports of call for the solo circumnavigator, aboard INSV Mhadei, which will complete 22,500 nautical miles before returning home later next year.

Former Naval Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, who is to take over as the next High Commissioner of India in Wellington shortly, flagged off the yacht in the port of Mumbai on August 19.

“This is a phenomenal event in history of yachting, for the Navy and the Nation,” he said, speaking on the occasion.

The sailboat’s journey has thus far taken Mr Donde to Freemantle in Australia and currently New Zealand.

He will proceed to Port Stanley, Cape Town in South Africa and return to Mumbai.

While some press reports said this would mark the first solo journey of its type, Sailworld.com, an Australian website said another Indian sailor had undertaken a similar circumnavigation trip around the world sometime ago and written books on his adventures.

Lyttelton Port Chief Executive Peter Davie said the visit of Mr Donde was exciting.

“He is only visiting four ports on his world journey and hence we are privileged to have him call on us in Christchurch.

“It is an amazing feat of physical endurance and mental toughness to undertake such a challenging adventure,” he said.

Lyttelton based Independent Provedoring is providing accommodation and a vehicle for the visiting Commander during his stay in New Zealand.

Indian Newslink understands that there would be no other ports of call in this country and that he would set sail for the Falkland Islands this weekend to meet his friend, before moving on to South Africa.

Named after the River in Goa, INSV Mhadei is 17.1 metres long, featuring a set of six sails. Funded by the Indian Defence Ministry, the yacht is reported to have cost $US 1.34 million.

The Project, called, Sagar Parikrama (a Sanskrit word, loosely translated means, ‘Getting around over sea’), has been in the making for more than three years.

Commander Donde is carrying basic navigation equipments, food, rations, medicines, first aid kits, books, spares, still and video cameras.

“I also have a broadband connectivity,” he said.

But his sole companion during the entire trip is a soft tweety bird toy.

The Indian Navy commissioned Commander Donde as a Clearance Diver on New Year’s Day in 1990. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (based in Khadakwasla in Pune), he has evinced keen interest in offshore sailing.

He volunteered to circumnavigate INS Tarangini during her maiden voyage five years ago. Since then, he has been on similar journeys.

An Indian High Commission press release said that Commander Donde was deputed to work with the legendary Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (the first man to sail non-stop solo around the world in 1968-69), who was preparing his boat for the Velux 5 Oceans round-the-World race in 2006- 2007.

“Later, he built INSV Mhadei, a first sailing yacht of its kind constructed in India.

“He has taken the vessel to Colombo and Mauritius, logging more than 6500 nautical miles. The sea journey to Mauritius, with Lt Cdr Abhilash Tomy as the crew, was the first shorthanded sail by an Indian boat over a distance of 2300 nautical miles nonstop, while the return leg was the first solo sail by an Indian over such a distance,” the notification said.

Retired Naval Commander Vice-Admiral M P Avati said Commander Donde will become the first Indian to circumnavigate the world single-handed.

“There have been several such attempts made by sailors from European nations.

“There is also the grave issue of icebergs from the Antarctica floating northwards in summer. They could be lethal if the boat comes in contact with one such chunk of ice,” he said, speaking to reporters at the flag-off ceremony.